The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, this Monday informed the regional government of Andalusia and the mayor of the Campo de Gibraltar region, which borders the British colony of the same name, about the imminent agreement with America. Kingdom regarding the removal of the border fence and the shared use of Gibraltar airport.

In a press conference following the meeting, the minister pointed out that a political agreement regarding Gibraltar would allow flights from Spain or the rest of Europe to the airport, as was the case between 2006 and 2011, and stressed that this joint use would help “invigorate” the development of Campo de Gibraltar .

Albares believes that in this case, as he told the mayors, they can arrive at the next meeting to be held in Madrid on a direct flight from that airport.

On April 12, the European Commission (EC), the UK and Spain managed to agree on a “common political line” regarding the situation in Gibraltar after Brexit in areas such as airports or mobility.

At Monday’s meeting other interesting issues were also discussed, such as the removal of the border fence between the colony and Spain, freedom of movement of people and goods and the rights of Campo de Gibraltar workers who go to work every day. to the British colonies, all with Spain’s sovereign position remaining “intact” and “protected,” according to Albares.

Gibraltar, at the southernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, has been in British hands since 1713.

The situation in Gibraltar was not included in the agreement on Britain’s exit from the European Union, so the three parties involved had to negotiate a deal on the sidelines.

After a meeting with the minister, advisor to the Presidency, Interior, Social Dialogue and Administrative Simplification of the Government of Andalusia, the region where Gibraltar is located, Antonio Sanz, stated that it was “superficial for the importance of what is being discussed”, and he insisted that they wanted an agreement, “but not just any agreement” and not “with Campogribraltarians turning their backs.”

Mayors in the region expressed “relative optimism” about the imminent deal in Gibraltar, but also fear that it would harm the region’s economy with possible “fiscal dumping”.